Loved Ones Honored on Day of the Dead

ORANGE —  Magdalena Bravo, 67, of Santa Ana and her younger brother used to dance, go to the beach and cook in her kitchen together, until cancer ended his life eight years ago.

“He loved me just like a mother, not a sister, and I loved him just like a son,” Bravo said. “We were very close.”

On Saturday, those fond memories came flooding back as Bravo and more than 600 people from Orange County Catholic churches paid homage to their loved ones during their annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. The holiday is celebrated Nov. 2, All Souls’ Day, but church leaders said they marked it Saturday so more people could attend.

“Even though death separates us from our loved ones, our faith in Jesus Christ allows us to be together,” said Msgr. Jaime Soto. “All Souls’ Day remembers individuals that have gone on before us.”

The Day of the Dead is a family affair where relatives visit and clean their relatives’ grave sites, offering the deceased his or her favorite foods. They also spend the night burning incense, dancing and picnicking at the grave sites.

Saturday’s four-hour celebration in the Holy Sepulcher Cemetery began at noon with a procession and ended with dances from groups in traditional Aztec and Mexican dress. Soto said Mass while people sat on chairs in the midst of the graves.

With his head bowed, Mike Castro, 68, of Orange remembered his wife of 40 years, who died two years ago.

“I miss her,” Castro said with a shrug. “She died during dialysis. Today is the day to pay my respects.”

Aside from reciting the rosary during the procession, Castro and others walked solemnly into the cemetery where a Mass was said. On the altars were bright yellow and orange flowers, crosses and figurines of saints.

Their offerings included apples, sweetbread made for this occasion and a bottle of whiskey. Some quietly wept; others sang with the priests.

“Today is a celebration of Christ,” Soto said. “Pray for the victims of violence. Pray for their families and pray for each other.”

Soto also briefly spoke against Proposition 187, the state ballot initiative that would deny social services, public education and all but emergency medical care to illegal immigrants.

During his speech, Socorro Quezada stood in the back, muffling her sobs with a handkerchief.

“I have my daughter over there,” said the 57-year-old Fullerton resident, pointing to the graves behind her. “Someone strangled her five years ago. She would’ve been 25 today. The world is crazy.”

Seeing so many family and friends together actually comforted some of those people who recently lost a loved one.

Hugo Hernandez, 18, of Santa Ana sought shade under the trees where the Mass was said. He and his cousin, Carmen Gutierrez, 27, of Santa Ana, shared fond memories of Hernandez’s father, who died a year ago.

“I think (the celebration) is good,” Hernandez said. “Today is special. My father was the only thing I had.”

Soto started the Day of the Dead celebration for Orange County’s large Latino population four years ago. Saturday’s celebration was sponsored by the Diocese of Orange.

“It’s visiting the dead one special day during the year and having the food they used to like and thinking that they’re there partaking in it,” said Juanamaria Amezquita of Orange. “That we are together at least once a year. That’s the way to remember the dead.”